A Small Church Isn't For Wimps

 

You know the band Newsboys? Their second album was entitled "Hell Is for Wimps." That was back in the day when they were borderline hair metal. I am confident that many current Newsboys fans would not appreciate their early days. 

That album title got me thinking a bit: not only is Hell for wimps, but being part of a church—let alone pastoring a small church—certainly isn't for wimps either. Giving up on small churches though happens all the time. Allow me to explain, drawing on almost 17 years of pastoring a "small church."

When people first attend a small church, there is often a sense of infatuation. It feels quaint, the people are friendly, and it has a general homey feeling. However, as is often the case with a new pastor and new church dynamics, there is a honeymoon phase where no wrong can be done. In a church setting, this honeymoon phase includes unwavering volunteerism, generous giving, and telling all your friends about the church. Unfortunately, this phase can end quickly, and then reality sets in.

With a small church comes a lack of programming, worship that may not align with one's preferences (which is a theological discussion for another time), and other resources that larger churches can typically offer.

The reality is that a small church will not be able to provide what larger churches have. Whenever a new program is proposed by congregants of a smaller church, it is usually with the expectation that the lead pastor or their spouse will take it and run. This simply isn’t feasible because pastors in both small and large churches are already pulled in multiple directions; adding another program can be overwhelming. A responsible pastor will say no—they simply cannot take on more than they are already doing. If someone has an idea for a program or outreach, that person should, more often than not, be the one to lead it.

So what tends to happen at that point? People bail. This is why small churches remain small, while larger churches keep growing. People and families may attend a larger church and find they are not being accommodated, leading them to move on to the next church. It’s easy to do because churches are a dime a dozen. This results in what I call "boomerang Christians," where the individuals who left eventually come back only to start the process all over again. Inevitably, they will find a pastor who doesn’t listen to them, worship that doesn’t meet their standards (often skewed by poor theology), or a lack of programs for different age groups.

In a small church setting, it's best to approach things with humility. If you have a gift in worship, remember that you are not God’s gift to worship. There may be a curriculum you’d like to see implemented, but understand that if it adds more work, it probably won't happen until more people step up. If your pastor isn’t political enough or is not preaching "fire and brimstone" style sermons, and you leave to watch someone online instead, I feel sorry for that person. There is something beautiful about being part of a community each Sunday. You will never find a pastor who will preach on exactly what you want every week. You will never find a pastor who will wholeheartedly agree with all of your political, cultural, theological, and ministerial ideologies, but that is part of the beauty of being part of a church. There is diversity—only if you're ready to embrace it.

Churches grow larger when people are willing to stick around and help or engage in what is already happening, so that programs are in place when more people attend. This model applies to any church, as all have started off small.

So, if you’re the type of person who goes from church to church without being able to settle down, consider this: perhaps it’s not the church that’s the problem.